UN Human Rights Chief: “We are failing the people of Gaza”

08 September 2025

(Excerpt on the situation in Gaza)

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Excellencies,

Israel’s mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza; its infliction of indescribable suffering and wholesale destruction; its hindering of sufficient lifesaving aid and the ensuing starvation of civilians; its killing of journalists, UN staff and NGO workers; and its commission of war crime upon war crime, are shocking the conscience of the world. I am horrified by the open use of genocidal rhetoric, and the disgraceful dehumanization of Palestinians by senior Israeli officials.

The region is crying out for peace. Gaza is a graveyard. Israel remains in deep trauma after the horrific attacks by Hamas and other armed groups on 7 October and the continued holding of hostages.

Further militarization, occupation, annexation and oppression will only feed more violence, retribution, and terror.

Israel has a legal obligation to take the steps ordered by the International Court of Justice, to prevent acts of genocide, punish incitement to genocide, and ensure enough aid reaches Palestinians in Gaza.

My Office’s monitoring and reporting are an important contribution to future accountability. Israel has a case to answer before the International Cout of Justice, and the evidence continues to mount.

But we need action now, to end the carnage.

The international community is failing in its duty. We are failing the people of Gaza.

Where are the decisive steps to prevent genocide?

Why are countries not doing more to avert atrocity crimes?

Inaction is not an option.

They must stop the flow to Israel of arms that risk violating the laws of war.

They must apply maximum pressure for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained, as well as the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza – through all the means at their disposal.

They must take decisive action to oppose Israel’s planned military takeover of Gaza and its accelerating annexation of the occupied West Bank. I also urge their backing for the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.

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